“Financially, this is something we can work with if we get off that four year clock [set by the Fruitport termination notice],” said city manager Natasha Henderson. “This is something we can plan with for now.”

Councilwoman McGlothin argued that starting with Fruitport’s notice in April 2011 that it was exiting its water contract with Muskegon Heights, the township’s authority to negotiate a new deal alongside Norton Shores ceased to exist.